Family safety tips for the holidays
Certain environmental factors and toys gifted to children during the holiday season could pose health risks. Dr. Scott Krugman, vice chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai, offers families these holiday safety tips:
Purchase age-appropriate toys for the kids.
The first rule for buying toys, Krugman says, is to purchase developmentally appropriate items based on the child's age and ability. "A typically developing three-year-old should not be playing with a toy designed for a six-year-old, for example Lego building blocks for kids ages five and up versus Duplo beginner blocks for babies," he says. "A non-risky toy for an older child who can understand that you don't put small objects in your mouth can be deadly for a younger child who just puts everything in his mouth. If the child you are buying a present for has developmental delay, make sure you are buying based on their developmental ability, not age."
Parents should also refer to lists of potentially dangerous toys compiled by the Consumer Products Safety Commission and World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. 
Avoid electrical hazards.
Between lights, candles and trees, there a number of potential hazards for children in a home with holiday decorations. Burns are the most common form of injury to children and can occur in a number of ways, Krugman says. "Young children naturally grab and try to hold shiny, bright objects, so all lighted candles should be placed well out of reach from children," he says.
Electrical lights need to be free of fraying or open sockets, as "any access to current can cause an electrical burn to a child," Krugman says.
Any dangling strings or cords can be strangulation hazards. In addition, Christmas trees should be carefully positioned inside your home, as such a heavy object, when poorly secured, can fall on top of a child and cause injury, Krugman says.
Watch for potential kitchen hazards.
Children, for example, can reach up and pull down hot objects or containers filled with hot liquids from the kitchen counter, which could lead to a scald burn. "Scald burn injuries can be devastating as they often occur on children's face and chest," Krugman says. "When family members or guests congregate in the kitchen while cooking, it's easy to forget to turn off the stove or close a hot oven door, both of which can cause hand burns."
Krugman adds: "Don't forget to cook all food thoroughly and disinfect all cooking surfaces to prevent foodborne illnesses."
Some additional safety tips:
- Shovel snow and use deicers on slippery sidewalks to help prevent falls.
- Do not place infants in car seats wearing heavy or thick coats. "These can impact how well the car seat works and can lead to a baby slipping out of the car seat in an accident," Krugman says.
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